Spring break

8 months pregnant and hiking the primitive trail around Devil's Garden in Arches National park. I loved those spires! This was the day of the wind.
A cold day, but beautiful views in Dead Horse State Park.
All bundled up and enjoying hiking out to different view points.
Yay for kisses. We were having a really good time!
Canyon Lands- this is the view above White Rim. It would be fun to bike that trail some day! 100 miles along the rims of the canyon. Look at the way the sun keeps peeking out from the clouds, teasing us and dancing away! But, it made for some great photos!


Ryan and I just returned for an awesome spring break trip to Moab, UT. It was not the normal Moab trip, considering I cannot mountain bike right now, but it was a fun adventure nonetheless. We got to see some of the sights that you don't normally see when your main agenda is biking. We ran into mother nature of every kind. It was really quite the experience.

We got there on Saturday to find gorgeous, hot weather. Our adorable, little camper cabin had great views of the desert geological wonders and the snow-frosted La Sal mountains. There was a great dirt ATV/hiking trail that started about 200 feet from our cabin. It was an incredible location. Our cabin was very basic- some bunk beds, a little table, a mini fridge, and a heater (thankfully). We brought all of our camping gear so we could cook outside on the stove. Each morning, we grilled blueberry bagels over the stove and had hot coffee from the percolator while enjoying the fantastic views. The showers were a separate building, so it was like tent camping- only warmer. The cabin was similar to some we had on our honeymoon, so it was perfect for us. We got an Annual National Parks pass and got to enjoy Arches National Park, Dead Horse State Park, and Canyonlands. We covered lots of ground. On Sunday, we went hiking around Devils garden to see 7 famous arches. Sunday was the windiest day I have ever experienced in my life. The sand was sandblasting us like crazy, but it was warm out. My face still looks red and windburned. I have never seen anything like it, especially in Moab. There were times where it was hard to see just 15 feet in front of you because of all of the dust tornadoes. But, it didn't ruin our 8 mile trek on the primitive loop around these arches. We saw some extraordinary views and enjoyed exploring through arches. And, it was in fact, the wind that created these awesome arches, so one cannot really complain.

The wind brought in some really cold air and Sunday night was frigid. We were glad to not have to cook outside- as we met up with some of Ryan's work buddies in town at the Moab Brewery! It is one of our favorite restaurants ever. We both got burritos. Yum!

Over the trip, we also got to do some good reading and playing games. It is often a blessing to have simple accommodations with no TV or Internet or other distractions. It made for lots of good conversation and cuddling. Plus, I think I finally feel rested up on sleep because of our cozy sleeping bag and the darkness of the cabin. Hiking in extreme elements wore me out, so I had no trouble sleeping.

Monday, we toured Dead Horse State Park and Canyonlands. Monday was much colder than we prepared for, as we found snow up in Dead Horse. So, we layered up with as many clothes as we brought and could find in my car and went to see the sights. We did some shorter hikes out to view points and enjoyed every minute of it. Later, we went in to Moab to find some souvenirs and get a hot mocha. We got some cool Moab mugs, a fun shirt for me, and a Moab shirt for Coranelle. So cute! We made dinner on our little stove and ate inside the heated cabin. SO glad that we were not in a tent. Then we enjoyed long, hot showers and snuggling up to play games.

This morning, it was sunny and warm and we had another desert walk. All in all, a wonderful time away with Ryan and Coranelle.

Coranelle did great with all of the hiking. She was really moving around a lot during the trip! And, it doesn't feel like little rubber band snaps anymore. I can feel her almost scraping up against me as she twists and turns. If you watch my tummy, you can see lumps and protrusions from her little body. You can also watch my stomach move and it kind of looks like a monster. She is running out of room! I can often feel her foot kick me and we'll play little games. I'll push her foot back in, and she'll take it in, only to kick me somewhere else. She really likes to get that foot up under my zyphoid process and leave it there. That little bone (or whatever it is) is perpetually sore.

We are excited to someday take her on a trip to Moab so she can see all of these things and do a little hiking and exploring herself. Cora the explora' !

Tomorrow brings the first of two breast feeding classes. I also have a doctor's appointment Friday and Ryan and I have a childbirth class all day on Saturday. So, lots of baby preparation this week.